What order to put switches

[carealtor]

I have a 3 gang box just outside the great room.  The 3 switches are for the "main" lights (cans), ceiliing fan, and the small light under the ceiling fan.

 

Should the switch for the "main" light be on the left (as in "reading left to right") or should it be the "main" light switch be the one closest to the room (which would put it on the right)?

 

I would think the fan and fan light would be next to each other, which would rule out putting the "main" light switch in the middle.

 

Curious how others resolve what order they decide to put the switches in a multiple gang situation.

[oberkc]

Personally, I put room switches further away from door or entry, and switches controlling lights outside the room closer to the door or entry. Otherwise, I don't personally employ any particular method.

[stusviews]

Based on my experience as an electrician (more than a decade), it's standard practice when installing multi-gang switches to place the switch controlling the light in the room you're in (the switch is in the room) or the room you're entering (the switch is outside the room) in closest to the door.

 

An exception is an interior switch for an exterior light. In that situation, then exterior light switch is closest to the door.

 

In your 3-gang situation, you'll have to decide which is the "main" light and place that closest to the door, the secondary light would be next and the fan switch furthest from the door. But, that's just my suggestion. In general, the least used switch is furthest away from the door and the most used is closest.

[paulbates]

Also consider that dimmers lose a significant portion of their load capacity (200 watts) when ganging side by side. The middle switch loses 400 watts if all 3 are dimmers.

 

From the manual under mounting "Single or multi-gang junction boxes. Derating of 200W for each immediately adjacent dimmer."

http://cache-m2.smarthome.com/manuals/2477d-en-03-26-2015.pdf

 

 

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[larryllix]

I like to order my switches by the same geographic layout as the room, keeping in mind the derating factor. as per Paul, and the convenience of the most used switch, as per Stu.

 

With the low powered LED bulbs these days the derating factor can be ignored, if you follow the LED green practices, but the "reaching over" the other switches in a dark room to get ANY light can be a PITA.

[carealtor]

Thank you for the responses.

 

There is no door, the switches are on hall wall just as you enter the great room.  Facing the switches, the great room opens up just to the right.  So it sounds like the proper order would be:  fan, fan light, can lights (main).

 

Thanks again.

[stusviews]

By "door" an opening in the wall is implied. There does not need to be something that closes that opening. If the can lights (main) are closest to the opening, then I agree with your decision, most especially if the fan light is apt to be used more often than the fan

[G W]

I put mine, used most to used least.

 

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